Abilene ISD -

November in Texas means the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs for high school football and volleyball teams across the state. It also means that the beginning of the high school basketball season is near, and at Cooper High School, hopes are high that both teams will return to the Class 5A state playoffs next March.

The Cooper girls started their season last Friday at Odessa High, and the boys will get the season tipped off this Friday (Nov. 8) at OHS. The first home game for the Cooper girls was Tuesday night (Nov. 5), a 35-33 loss to Brady. The Cooper boys will play their first home game next Tuesday (Nov. 12) at 7:30 p.m. against Sweetwater.

Here’s a brief look at each team going into the 2024-25 season:

COOPER BOYS: Cougars Looking for Return to Playoffs
Second-year head coach Michael Bacon welcomes back just one starter (Jaden Carrillo) and only four letterwinners from last year’s team, making this the most inexperienced team he’s led in his 14 years as a coach. That means he and his staff must find ways to create advantages with their personnel. The roster could also lead to a team that plays quicker than in the past and takes more 3-pointers.

“We have a roster of new faces that will have to gel together quickly if we are going to be successful,” Bacon said. “We’re limited in size and will have to play ‘bigger’ than our physical size. We want to hang our hat on defending and playing with toughness, which will continue this season. I expect us to play faster and shoot more from the 3-point line than in years past.”

Bacon is counting on Carrillo, junior guards Jabari Collier and Kaymon Regala, and sophomore guard Mazin Lawrence to provide his team's leadership in 2024-25. He’s also looking forward to seeing 6-4 freshman forward Tayden Bender take the floor for his team.

Cooper tied Wylie for fourth in last year’s District 4-5A, then lost to the Bulldogs by one point in the play-in game, keeping the Cougars out of the playoffs. This year’s District 4-5A lineup has completely changed, with Cooper joining Wylie, Abilene High, Wichita Falls Memorial, and Wichita Falls Legacy.

That means only eight games will determine the four teams that will make the state playoffs, putting even more of a premium on each of those games.

“Only having eight games doesn’t change what goes into preparing for each game,” Bacon said. “We are a game-plan-heavy team, and we take a lot of pride in how we scout opponents. That won’t change. The limited district schedule does change how you schedule and the amount of practice you have before you start district play.”

COOPER GIRLS: Lady Cougars Have Eyes Set on Playoffs
Cooper’s girls’ team has its sights set on a return to the postseason in 2024-25 after not reaching the playoffs since the 2018-19 season. Third-year head coach Brandon Hudson said his group wants this year’s team to be the one that gets the Lady Cougars back into the postseason dance. 

“No one on this year’s team was in high school the last time Cooper made the playoffs,” third-year head coach Brandon Hudson said. “This group wants to be the one that gets this program back into the playoffs and helps us be a consistent playoff team.”

The Lady Cougars return three starters and will count on senior guard Alliyah Ralston, senior forward Jayda Jones, and junior forward Amiya Myers to lead the group to the playoffs out of District 4-5A. He’s also excited about freshman guard Mauriyana Payne, who will play point guard for the Lady Cougars. With only two other letterwinners returning from last year’s team, Hudson said a big key to the non-district schedule is getting the mix between the experienced players on the roster and newcomers to the varsity right for the district schedule.

With five teams vying for four playoff spots in District 4-5A, Hudson said the eight-game sprint to the playoffs will be important, but not more so than in any other year.

“I treat every district game the same,” he said. “They’re all important, no matter how many you play. Obviously, with only five teams and eight district games, there’s less room for error because you don’t have time to find wins elsewhere.”

Cooper Boys
2024-25 Schedule

Head coach: Michael Bacon (5th season, 2nd season at Cooper)
Career record: 82-43 overall, 13-19 at Cooper
Last year’s record: 13-19, 6-6 (t-4th in District 4-5A; lost play-in game to Wylie)
Last district title: 2022
Last playoff appearance: 2023 (lost to Amarillo Palo Dura, 50-42, in bi-district round)
Returning lettermen/starters: 4/1
Players to watch (name, position, height, classification): Jaden Carrillo, guard, 5-9, jr.; Mazin Lawrence, G, 5-9, soph.; Kaymon Regala, G, 6-2, jr.; Jabari Collier, G, 6-2, jr.
Newcomers to watch (name, position, height, classification): Tayden Bender, F. 6-4, fr
Quoting Coach Bacon: “The biggest factor in our team getting back to the playoffs will be finding a group of players on our roster who will defend at a level that gives us a chance to win games and develop an offensive identity.”

Cooper Girls
2024-25 Schedule

Head coach: Brandon Hudson (7th year, 3rd at Cooper)
Career record: 55-127 overall, 32-34 at Cooper 
Last year’s record: 12-20 overall, 3-9 in district (5th in District 4-5A)
Last district title: N/A
Last playoff appearance: 2019 (lost to El Paso Socorro, 50-36, in Region I-5A area round)
Returning letter winners/starters:  5/3 
Players to watch: Mauriyana Payne, Alliyah Ralston, Jayda Jones, Amiya Mayes
Quoting Coach Hudson: “I believe the (District 4-5A) race will be very competitive this year. I think any of the three Abilene teams (Cooper, Abilene High, or Wylie) could win the district championship.”